Program Description

The Courts of Puerto Rico constitute a unified judicial system for purposes of jurisdiction, operation and administration. This program processes criminal or civil cases that require intervention from the judicial system. It is the judicial system that determines the constitutionality of a law.

The adopted consolidated budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 amounts to $353,306,000. This amount includes $332,700,000 from the Local Stabilization Fund, $10,063,000 from Special Appropriations, $5,011,000 from State Special Funds, $430,000 in Federal Grants, $102,000 from the Federal Economic Stimulus (ARRA Funds), and $5,000,000 from Other Income.

Operating expenses reflect an increase of $3,477,000 when compared to funds assigned in fiscal year 2011-2012. Other Income reflect an increase of $5,000,000 from the "Budget Support Fund 2012-2013". State Special Fund reflects a decrease of $1,289,000 as a result of non-recurrent expenses related to special projects such as equipment purchases and improvements to physical facilities

Act 286-2002, as amended, granted fiscal and budgetary autonomy to the Judicial Branch and established a fixed formula of 4% of the annual net revenues from the Treasury General Fund. This amount is assigned to the General Court under the Special Appropriations and the Local Stabilization Funds. When the total amount of annual net revenues is less than the previous year, the base amount shall be equal to the last annual allocation received by the Judicial Branch. The increase reflected is due to the inclusion of a fiscal year 2011-2012 reduction, as a result of an extraordinary measure that approved the financed amount of $14,819,000.

State Special Funds are authorized by Act 235-1998, as amended, and generated from fees collected by the courts. These funds will be used as authorized by law: to cover the cost of improving working conditions for the employees of the Judicial Branch, purchase equipment and materials needed to carry out improvements and any other legitimate expense for the benefit of the Judicial Branch. Additionally, they may also borrow money and use these funds to guarantee the repayment of those obligations.

Contributing Federal Funds include: Violence Against Women Formula Grants and State Court Improvement Grant. These grants allow the Judicial Branch to develop strategies to help and provide services to victims of domestic violence. Additionally, the courts will continue to expedite the judicial processes in the management of cases of abuse and negligence against minors, without affecting the parties' rights.

Consistent with the fiscal and budget autonomy granted by law, the General Courts Administration Office will provide the Legislative Assembly the information regarding the specific use of the adopted budget.

SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES